A PLANNING report focusing on future development across Test Valley has been slammed by opposition councillors.

Liberal Democrat councillors at Test Valley Borough Council have said the council has been left “vulnerable to opportunistic planning applications” over the revised local plan (RLP).

The document, which was under review by government planning inspector Phillip Ware, helps the borough to set its planning goals for the future.

North Baddesley borough councillor Celia Dowden said: “The people of Romsey and southern Test Valley are being steamrollered by the government’s pursuit of more houses at any cost and by an Andover-controlled Test Valley Borough Council that rides roughshod over the opinions of Romsey and North Baddesley residents.

“It is disappointing that the views of the North Baddesley borough councillors, and many hundreds of residents, that 300 more homes at Hoe Lane was not a sustainable location and would impact aversely on the whole neighbourhood, were not upheld.

"It is pleasing that the inspector has reinforced the importance of settlement boundaries and acknowledged all the identified local gaps.

"These were points that local borough councillors and residents repeatedly stressed.”

Romsey (Tadburn) councillor Mark Cooper said: “The report is deeply disappointing.

The inspector has accepted the opinion of Test Valley Borough Council that the area’s housing needs should be met on just two giant sites, 1,300 at Lower Whitenap and 300 at Hoe Lane without qualification and without criticism.

“The inspector makes no reference to the 1,107 objections to the Whitenap allocation nor to the hundreds of objections to the Hoe Lane development west of North Baddesley.”

Test Valley Borough Council has received the final Revised Local Plan RLP report from the government inspector who was responsible for scrutinising it.

The inspector has found the RLP “sound”, subject to the inclusion of a number of modifications which the council had previously agreed in April 2015.

The RLP will be reported to cabinet on January 13 and full council on January 27 which is expected to be adopted on the same night.

Planning policy and transport portfolio holder, Councillor Martin Hatley, pictured, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the inspector has found the Revised Local plan sound.”